Energy Utilities Calling On Residents To Lower Energy Use During Cold Snap

(KDLM) – Minnesota energy providers are calling on residents to reduce energy usage Monday night and Tuesday as sub-zero temperatures sweep across the state.

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a wind chill warning that is in effect until noon on Tuesday for a number of west-central Minnesota counties including Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, Wadena, Hubbard, and Clearwater.

With the freezing temperatures, energy usage in homes and businesses is higher than normal.

Minnesota Power in northeastern Minnesota is calling on its customers to set their thermostats at 68 degrees or lower while encouraging those with electric heat to install programmable thermostats.

In southern Minnesota, the Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative has issued a “peak alert” for between 5-8 p.m. Monday, urging people to shift avoidable electricity use until after 5 p.m.

Their advice includes reducing thermostats to 68 – lower if nobody’s home, using a microwave for dinner rather than the oven, charging electric vehicles, running a dishwasher, or watching TV later in the evening.

In 2021, a cold snap impacting the central U.S. saw a huge spike in energy prices, which utilities have since been trying to recoup from customers in Minnesota and other states.